By the time this blog is shared, Rising Fire Theatre will have opened and closed its inaugural production. I am still overwhelmed - I am the co-founder of a theatre company. It’s exciting and terrifying and meanwhile the rest of my life has been stomping about around me.
In this moment of reflection, I realize that art is a form of gratitude. Gratitude for my fellow co- founders and the firepit readers who gave this adventure momentum and energy; gratitude for the many, many people we spoke with who gave help and suggestions; gratitude for our generous families, friends, and fans who donated to our crowdfunding efforts despite the fact they may never see one of our productions (I’m looking at you Jac Price!); and gratitude for those share their talents, time, and work so that we can offer stories to artists and audiences.
Theatrical art doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens while we’re struggling with weather and jobs or while we are stumbling through our lives and wrestling with our demons. Through it all, we take the risk to offer something bigger than ourselves to highlight that we are all in this together. For me, it is an act of gratitude. I get to work with passionate, interesting, and interested people. I get to share with people who brave the cold and road conditions to witness productions shown in ways that are - hopefully - new and compelling. I get to create with dedicated artists who are willing to risk and grow and risk again. I am humbled by all.
And I am grateful for you - you who have read to the end of this post. You may have donated to our crowdfunding or come to see a show. You may have found a necessary prop or shared one of our Facebook posts. All actions create momentum and I am grateful for your help in making this possible. You are what makes this act of art possible while the rest of our lives go stomping about around us. Thank you!
-Anita Ross
Executive Director
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